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THE COOK-OFF (Shawn E. Okpebholo) Bloomington IN 2026
Information on the Performance
- Work Title: The Cook-Off
- Composer: Okpebholo Shawn E.
- Libretto: Mark Campbell Libretto Text, Libretto Index
- Venue & Opera Company: Musical Arts Center, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Bloomington Indiana
- Recorded: September 18 & 19, 2026
- Type: Staged Opera Live
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE
The Cook-Off is a comedic and heartfelt opera set in the high-pressure world of a televised cooking competition. Five contestants—each with their own secrets, ambitions, and culinary quirks—face off in a whirlwind of rivalries, alliances, and surprising revelations. Beneath the “mac-and-cheesy” humor and sizzling tension, the opera reveals deeper truths about history, food and culture, legacy, and identity.
Cast of Characters
Saturday, September 19
Kenny Kincaid ……………Giovani Malcolm
Beryl Bennett …………….Miranda Nilan
Kendra Smith ……………Adreanna Pulliam
Ivy Sweet ……………….Nadine Adisho
Álvaro Mendez ……. . …….Martín Ramírez Jr.
Theme Song Vocals ………..Mariah Mattson
Announcer ………. . …….Callum Parnell Miles
Friday, September 18
Evan Woods Gunter
Nicole Barbeau
GeDeane Graham
Erica Skinner
Matthew Perez
Mariah Mattson
Callum Parnell Mile
Synopsis
by April Balay
Ph.D. Student in Musicology
The setting of The Cook-Off is none other than America’s favorite cooking show
of 2015, America Loves Food, in which three chefs must prepare their own version of a
signature American dish. In today’s live episode, filmed in Charlottesville, Virginia, host
Kenny Kincaid introduces the show and guest judge Beryl Bennett, a Scottish food critic
and cookbook author. After announcing the dish of the day—macaroni and cheese—we
meet our contestants: Ivy Sweet, a lifestyle blogger; Kendra Smith, the owner of a soul
food restaurant; and Álvaro Mendez, a food truck owner. Amid promotions for the show’s
sponsored cookware, the chefs race against the clock to prepare dishes that reflect their
individual styles. After they finish cooking, Kenny interviews them about their creations
and what winning would mean for their futures. Their public answers, however, reveal only
part of their stories. The next segment of the competition spotlights Beryl Bennett as she
provides an in-depth history of the featured dish. Meanwhile, each of our contestants reflect
on their backstories and their motivations for winning. Ivy Sweet recounts her humble
beginnings and transformation into a lifestyle blogger. She wants to win to pay back her
debts, so that she may maintain her stylized persona. Next is Álvaro, who reminisces about
learning to cook from his mother in Mexico. Winning the competition could help him
open his own restaurant and prove to his family that leaving home was worthwhile. Last is
Kendra, who remembers her beloved Aunt Bebe, who taught her family recipes alongside
lessons about Black history and culture. She hopes to honor her aunt by preserving and
sharing those histories. The oven timers ring and the dishes are ready to be judged. Beryl
puts on a blindfold and tastes Ivy’s seven-cheese dish first. She notes that it is rich but
excessive. Next is Álvaro’s Mexican-inspired dish, which brings unexpected heat. Lastly,
Kendra’s simple preparation offers familiarity and comfort. The winner is announced and
everyone learns something new about the history of macaroni and cheese. The show ends
with the announcement of the location and dish for the next episode of America Loves Food